Latch-guide



l (No Model.) l l T. DONAHUE1 1 LATCH GUIDE.

No. 553,782. Patented Jan. 28, 1896.

W/ TNE SSE S.'

AHORA/Erg I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS DONAHUE, OF HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T O ADELBERT J. WARNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LATCH-GUIDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 553,782, dated January 28, 1896.

Application led April 4, 1895. Serial No. 544,452. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS DONAHUE, of Hampshire, in the county of Kane, State of Illinois, have invented an Improved Latch- Guide, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved latchguide, and particularly to one which will permit the latch to be changed to the right or left hand without removing cap of case or face-plate.

My invention consists in the peculiar construction of the several parts and their novel combination or arrangement, all of Which will be fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this speciiication, Figure 1 is an interior view of a lock containing my improved latch-guide. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of lock. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, said view showing the position of the latch-guide in both a raised and lowered position. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the latch-guide, and Fig. 5 is horizontal sectional View.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the case and B the cap-piece and C the face-plate. Working in the case and through the faceplate is the latch D, havingthe head CZ and shank d', said shank d having an opening cl2, which receives the stud d3 of the latch-throwing mechanism. Straddling the shank of the latch is a guide E consisting of a ilat plate of metal, bifurcated at its lower end to receive and guide the latch and upon its side edges are formed projections or extensions F F, which project through slots G Gmade in the face of the cap and case. The guide is thus held in place between the case and cap-pieces,

and no further means of attachment is needed.

When it is desired to reverse the latch, the guide is pushed up, thus removing it above the latch-shank, which can then be withdrawn, reversed, and reinserted. The guide is then pushed down astride the shank and acts as a guide as before.

The projections F F extend a sufficient distance through the slots to be readily moved by the thumb or iinger. If desired, this projection can be turned over and riveted or secured in any manner desired; but I prefer to make them plain, so the cap can be easily removed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, with a lock-case and reversible latch of a latch-gui de held between the sides or faces of said case, and adapted to be slid up and down; the lower end of said latch-guide being bifurcated and adapted to straddle the latch when the guide is in a loW- ered position, substantially as shown and described. 1

2. The combination with a case, and cap, slotted as described, of a latch working in said case, and a latch-guide bifurcated at the lower end adapted to straddle the latch and having lateral extensions working in the slot in case and cap, substantially as shown and de-.

scribed.

In testimony thereof I aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS DONAHUE. Vitn esses EDITH G. HALEY, JOSEPH WARNER. 

